Eiswerth, a resident of Tucson since 1992, worked as a research geologist specializing in GeoSpatial Information Technologies with the US Geological Survey. After ten years working extensively with technology transfer in Latin America, she pursued a career as an environmental scientist working at the Office of Arid Lands, Arizona Remote Sensing Center. Her work included projects in East and West Africa. In 2003, after receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Arizona, Eiswerth founded a community based organization, which soon focused on UN refugees. The programs have evolved from harvesting a few thousand pounds of fruit to an annual harvest of over 50 tons of fruit, nuts, and vegetables from backyards, local farms and orchards. Barbara serves on the state Linking Edible Arizona Forests (LEAF) steering committee, heads the UALEAF project, and is an adjunct at the University of Arizona in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment.

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Kate Jewett-Williams

Volunteer Coordinator

Kate moved to Tucson after completing a year of service with the Young Adult Service Corps of the Episcopal Church in Liverpool, where she worked to promote food security for refugees and asylum seekers. She has experience in volunteer coordination, community outreach, and fundraising. She is looking forward to developing new relationships around food security, harvesting, and sustainability. When she’s not working you may catch her on the rugby pitch as a referee or coaching high school girls.

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Jack Speelman

Special Projects Manager

Jack Speelman is a student at the University of Arizona and Pima Community College, studying Mechanical Engineering and CNC Machining, with a Minor in Spanish Language. He has been with Iskashitaa for over two years, leading harvests, events, and more. Jack is now working with interns to develop community outreach and organization efficiency. He is particularly interested in the complete cycle of produce, from growing to harvest to processing to disposal, and ultimately to growing again.

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Marco Martin Cowan

IT Intern

Marco is a computer science student who started volunteering at Iskashitaa in the spring of 2016, soon after he moved to Tucson from his native country of Spain. He was introduced to the awesome world of fruit trees at a young age by his plant nerd parents.

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Leah Edwards

Food Preservation Workshops Intern

Leah is a recent transplant to Tucson and is enjoying learning about all the Sonoran Desert has to offer, including new recipes for the edible plants and fruits harvested by Iskashitaa! She is coordinating the Food Preservation Classes with Tom Kresler, in addition to other educational outreach activities. She found her passion for working in the intersection of food, health, community-building and the environment through her travels, working on farms and teaching English in Ecuador, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Turkey, and Cambodia. She is currently completing her practicum in Community Nutrition Education as part of her Masters in Nutrition and Integrative Health. In addition to learning about her new desert environs, she enjoys cooking, painting, and exploring the surrounding mountains here in Tucson.

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Cristina Raquel Moraga Franco

Project and Intern Coordinator

Cristina Moraga is a student at the University of Arizona, majoring in Nutritional Sciences and minoring in Spanish. Having moved from Chile at a young age, Cristina has lived in Arizona for the last 13 years, and in Tucson for almost 7. She is excited about all that Tucson has to offer, especially at the UA, including internship opportunities, clubs, intermural sports and other activities. Through her school and major she was able to intern for Iskashitaa in the spring of 2017 and she stayed on as the Food Workshop Coordinator for the duration of that summer. She is now coming back to Iskashitaa through a different role, this time under the UA overseeing a group of new interns to implement new goals and ideas. She is thrilled about this opportunity to do amazing things with people she is lucky to call her friends.

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Analya Romo

Harvest Intern

Analya Romo received her BA from The University of Arizona in Global Studies with an emphasis in global health and development in Latin America. Additionally, she double minored in public health and spanish. In 2015, she assisted local public health workers in Guatemala while making family healthcare visits. Currently, Romo works with domestic violence survivors in the community, assists with harvesting at Iskashitaa, and volunteers her time at Casa Alitas, working with asylum seekers. In her spare time, Romo enjoys hiking, dancing, and traveling.

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Joanne Finch

Lead Harvester

Came to Tucson in 1953 at 13 years old. Worked at UCLA and University of Arizona for 30 years in cancer biology as a research specialist where I worked with many foreign students and post docs. Using early DNA Engineering techniques as tools, I studied oncogenes, authored technical papers, managed and taught others. With my husband, we raised three children, now scattered. I have been working with Iskashitaa for about 10 years.

It gives me great satisfaction to see food and produce in large quantities going to good use. I enjoy working with folks from all backgrounds. I like the idea of using my volunteering so that others can volunteer. Iskashitaa offers variety in people to know and work to do.

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Conan Bardwell

Accounting Consultant

15 year Tucson resident, born in California, raised in Los Angeles. Connected via Casa Grande. Former cook, current juicing enthusiast, potter, player of instruments out of tune and out of key. Found Iskashitaa through a traffic ticket! – came for community service, stayed for the cause! My dogs know Miley Cyrus! Plan to continue to encourage leadership to invest time and resources in the Statements of Net Assets and the Statement of Activity. Just recently Mr. Bradwell was quoted saying "the best thing that ever happened to me was that traffic ticket."

Kaylen was born in Germany but has spent most of her life living in Arizona. She is currently in her second year as a sophomore at the University of Arizona and majoring in nutritional sciences. This is Kaylen’s first year as an intern for the Iskashitaa Refugee Network. She welcomes the opportunities of this new experience. When she is not studying or in class, you can catch Kaylen spending time with her friends, listening to music, or doing something fun outside such as hiking one of the many mountains in Tucson, Arizona.

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Maddison Ballard

Harvest Intern

Maddison is a third year student at the University of Arizona. She is studying for her BS in Nutritional Science and plans to one day become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. This is her first year interning with Iskashitaa Refugee Network and is ready to learn and grow from new experiences. Maddison has been living in Arizona for 10 years now and strives to find a new adventure whenever she can.

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Isabela Rodriguez

Edible Tree Intern

My name is Isabela Rodriguez, I have been an Arizonan for all of my life. I am a Junior at the University of Arizona. Currently, I am a Nutritional Sciences major hoping to become a registered dietitian and personal trainer upon graduating. I love working out and helping people around me live their lives in the healthiest way possible. I can't wait to keep finding out how interning at Iskashitaa will help me with my major and personal growth.

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Danielle Chellman

Harvest Intern

Danielle is a Junior at the University of Arizona and is majoring in Nutritional Sciences with the overall goal of one day becoming a pharmacist. She has lived in Tucson her entire life and is involved in various clubs. She enjoys attending the many events that are held around Tucson, working out, cooking, and spending time with her friends and family. This is Danielle’s first year interning at Iskashitaa and she enjoys spending time with the other interns, volunteers, and refugees.

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Nereyda Garcia

Garden Intern

Nereyda is a Nutritional Sciences undergraduate at the University of Arizona. She hopes to one day become a Pediatric Dentist and work with underserved populations. This is her first semester volunteering with Iskashitaa and she enjoys learning about their contribution to society. Nereyda grew up in Mexico and migrated to Arizona seven years ago. She enjoys reading, cooking and spending time with her toy poodle.